Coin controlled lock



Feb. 19, 1963 w. F. STACKHOUSE 3,077,970

com CONTROLLED LOCK Filed July 20, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r a i Q as as g5e 40 se 662 40 44 44 7 80 4 [84a 60 4i 6 78 65 74 84 78 76 74 8412209823303 M2586 E'fiiaafiizozwe. 6y 2. \kwm.

Patented Feb. 19, 1963 3,077,970 CDIN CONTROLLED LQCK Wells F.Stackhouse, Andover, Mass, assignor to American Locker Company, Inc,Boston, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 20, 1961, Ser. No.125,477 6 Claims. (Cl. 194-92) This invention relates to coin controlledlocks of the nature employed in parcel checking cabinets and particularly to improvements in the coin controlled lock disclosed in mycopending application Serial Number 819,436 filed June 10, 1959, nowPatent 3,023,875 dated March 6, 962. Considerable trouble has beenexperienced due to mischievious and irresponsible persons attempting tobeat the lock and thus secure service without payment of the requiredcoin or coins. One primary form of such attempts includes the stuffingof paper or other material into the lock to serve the function of therequired coin and thereby release the lock for operation. My saidcopending application discloses novel mechanism for eliminating thisdifiiculty by requiring a subsequent and final dropping of the coin bygravity to a lower level in the lock and wherein it serves to effectrelease of the bolt holding pawl, and my present invention adds certainimprovements thereto rendering such plugging of the lock more difiicultand including a simplified and stronger mechanism together with meansfor automatically reset- .ting the mechanism after each use and forpreventing repeated operation of the lock should it be thus released byunauthorized means.

The coin controlled lock comprising my invention embodies a locking boltmounted on a rotary lock barrel and disposed to move therewith forwardlyand rearwardly through an arcuate path to and from door locking andretracted positions respectively. The bolt is normally prevented fromfull forward movement by a latch and can be thus moved to door lockingposition only upon the depositing of the required coin or coins in thelock. Attempts have been made to beat the lock by forcing the bolt todoor locking position by means of an instrument placed against the bolt,especially when the door is open and the bolt exposed. Such attemptsusually break the latch and cause considerable damage. Whereas theinvention disclosed in my said copentling application prevents thisdamage by permitting a temporary and idle forward movement of the boltunder such forced action, my present invention provides an improved andrugged latch mechanism directly opposing such forced pressure on thebolt and positively preventing such forced movement. This latchfurthermore prevents door locking movement of the bolt until therequired coin is deposited and novel mechanism cooperating therewith isadapted to retain the latch in inoperative position and permit suchmovement of the bolt when the required coin or coins have been depositedin the lock.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood andappreciated from the following description of preferred embodimentsthereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in theaccompanying drawings in which FIG..1 is a fragmentary front elevationof a bank of checking cabinets employing my improved coin controlledlock,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the lock in unlocked position,

FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2 but showing a pivoted latching member heldout of normal position by a coin,

FIG. 4 is a like view showing the bolt rotated to door locking position,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary left side elevation of the lock showing twocoins deposited therein,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary portion of FIG. 5 showing the top coin droppedto a lower elevation,

FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 6 but showing the coins released,

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 9 is a like view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. '3,

FIG. 10 is a like view when the locking bolt is moving from FIG. 3 toFIG. 2,

FIG. 11 is a like view when the locking bolt has returned to theposition of FIG. 2 and FIG. 12 is a like view taken on line 1'212 ofFIG. 4.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a bank of coin controlled checkingcabinets and 12 indicates the closure door of one of the cabinets. Thelock mechanism 14 is secured to a marginal portion of the cabinet inposition to cooperate with and lock the door. This lock mechanismcomprises a body member or frame 15 having a front plate 16 securedthereto and disposed over and filling an opening through the cabinetwall, the lower end of the plate being provided with a lip 18 engagingbehind the cabinet wall and the upper end being equipped with a lock at20 for securing the front plate in place.

A lock barrel 22 including a removable key receiving portion 23 isrotatably mounted in a cradle portion 24 of the body 15. A door lockingbolt 26 is mounted on the barrel to rotate therewith forwardly andrearwardly to door locking and released positions respectively as shownin FIGS. 4 and 2. Means including a gear segment 27 in mesh with teeth28 on the barrel normally rotates the barrel to and holds it in theretracted position of FIG. 2, all as more specifically described inPatent 2,437,742.

The lock barrel 22 and bolt 26 can be rotated forwardly from theposition of FIG. 2 to a position slightly beyond FIG. 3 which is shortof the door locking position shown in FIG. 4. Further forward rotationis prevented by a strong latch pawl 29 pivotally mounted on a relativelylarge stud 30 and normally held in contact with the lock bolt by aU-shaped spring 32 having one end extending right angular-1y into a holein the pawl and the other end anchored at 31. The lock bolt is notchedto provide a rearwardly facing shoulder 34 disposed forwardly of thepawl in the normal position of FIG. 2 whereby the pawl will enter thenotch and normally permit only limited forward rotation of the barreland bolt.

An element 36 pivoted to the frame at 38 has a coin intercepting portion4%) disposed to project into a coin slot 42. A spring 44 anchored at oneend to the frame 15 and attached at its other end to an arm 46 normallypivots the element 36 clockwise and projects the portion 40 into thecoin slot (FIG. 2). The element 36 carries a tooth 4S normally extendinginto a recess 50 in the lock barrel when the parts are in the normalposition shown in FIG. 2. When the barrel is rotated forwardly from suchposition the tooth is forced outwardly of the recess, thereby pivotingthe element 36 counterclockwise (FIG. 3). Such movement of the elementpulls the coin intercepting portion 40 outwardly of the coin slot. Thetip end of the portion 40 is recessed at 52 to thereupon receive a cointhereinto for a purpose hereinafter described.

Locks of this nature are constructed to require the depositing of one ora predetermined plurality of coins thereinto and the lock hereinillustrated requires two such coins $3. The bottom coin is held in thecoin slot magazine between a leaf spring 54 and the laterally disposedend 55 of an arm 56 pivoted at 58. .The top coin is adapted to rest onthe bottom coin and against the coin intercepting portion 40 of theelement 36. The arm 56 is held downwardly in the coin supportingposition of FIG. 5 by said portion 40 extending over the free end of anarm 69 integral with the arm 56. r

When the coins are deposited. the bottom coin is trapp ed between 54 and55 and the top coin rests thereon and rolls downwardly against thenon-recessed portion of 40 (FIGS. 2 and 8). When the barrel and bolt arerotated from the position of FIG. 2 to the position permitted by thepawl 29 the element 36 is pivoted counterclockwise to a position inwhich the recess 52 is disposed opposite to the top coin which thereupondrops by gravity into the recess (FIGS. 3 and 9). When the barrel andbolt return to the position of FIG. 2 the coin within the recess 52prevents return of the portion 40- into the coin slot and the element 36is thereby held in the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

A stud 70 fixed to and projecting laterally from the bottom end of theelement 36 is provided with a head 72 on its free end. A latch member 74is mounted on the stud and is normally held flatly against the head by acompression spring 76 on the stud. This latch member is disposed tocooperate with the bottom end 78 of the pawl 29 as illustrated in FIGS.812 and hereinafter described, said end being beveled at one face 80.The lock is shown in its normal position in FIG. 2 in which position aportion 82 of the bolt 26 contacts the pawl 29 and holds it pivotedoutwardly.

It will be apparent that the pawl 29 functions to prevent lockingmovement of the bolt beyond the shoulder 34 so long as no coins aredeposited in the lock. When the required two coins are deposited and thebarrel rotated forwardly from FIG. 2 to the position permitted byengagement of the pawl with the shoulder 34 the top coin drops into therecess 52 and retains the element 36 in the position of FIG. 3 while thebarrel and both return to the position of FIG. 2. During this lastmovement a laterally extending portion 84 of the latch member 74 engagesand rides over the beveled face 80 (FIG. and latches behind the bottomend 78 of the pawl (FIG. 11). The pawl is thus held outwardly asillustrated in FIG. 11 and the barrel and bolt can thereupon be rotatedto the door locking position of FIG. 4. When the parts are thus rotated,the portion 82 of the bolt pivots the element 36 and its portion 40outwardly (FIG. 4) to the position freeing the arm 60', the arm 56thereupon pivoting upwardly and releasing the coins (FIG. 7). Thus itwill be apparent that the lock can be rotated to door locking positiononly after the top coin ha dropped by gravity into the recess 52. Tomake doubly sure that the coin thus drops into the recess I provide apendulum 64 so pivoted at 6-6 that it rests against the top coin andaids gravity in moving the coin into the recess.

When the parts are in the position of FIGS. 2 and 8 the latch member 74is held right-angularly to the arm 36 by a finger 67 on the member 74engaging in a notch 68 in the head 72. Riding of the latch portion 84 onthe surface 80 (FIG. 10) withdraws the finger from the notch and permitsrotation of the member 74 to the position shown in FIG. 4. This rotationtakes place when the bolt is moved to door locking position at whichtime the extended portion 86 at the upper right hand corner of themember 74 (see FIGS. 3 and 12) contacts the abutment 88, therebyproviding return clearance between the parts 74 and 78. When the partsmove from locked position (FIG. 4) back to unlocked position (FIG. 2)the upper left corner of the member 74 abuts against the coin slot walland rotates the member 74 back to the position shown in FIG. 2 whereinthe finger 67 again engages within the notch 68.

The lock is operated by a key 62 which is removable from the lock onlywhen the lock is in the door locking position of FIG. 4, the keythereupon serving as a check and which thereafter can be used to reopenthe cabinet. When the bolt is turned to the door locking position ofFIG. 4 the laterally extending arm 86 (FIG. 12) contacts the abutment 88and pivots the latch member 74 to a position releasing the bottom end 78of the pawl 29, whereupon the spring 32 returns the pawl to its normalposition for engaging the shoulder 34. Thus further or repeatedunauthorized operation of the lock following each door locking movementof the bolt is automatically prevented. It is especially noted that theplugging of the coin slot with paper or material other than the requiredcoins cannot serve to permit movement of the bolt to door lockingposition.

A further and important feature of the invention comprises an additionalfunction served by the pawl 29. As hereinbefore stated, coonsiderabletrouble and damage has heretofore been experienced due to attempts tobeat the lock by forcing the locking bolts toward locking position.Whereas the invention disclosed in my said copending applicationprevents this damage by permitting a temporary and idle forward movementof the bolt under such forced action, the pawl 29 of my presentinvention directly opposes and positively prevents any such forcing ofthe bolt. Particular attention is directed to the rugged character ofthe pawl and heavy stud 30 on which it is mounted whereby fully to servethis function, the shoulder 34 preferably being on the bolt and the pawlin the plane of the bolt as illustrated in FIGS. 2-4.

Having thus disclosed my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A coin controlled lock comprising in combination, a frame, a doorlocking bolt mounted in the frame for movement forwardly and rearwardlyto door locking and released positions respectively, means including alatch permitting forward movement of the bolt toward but short of doorlocking position when the latch is in operative position, means normallymoving the latch to 0perative position, means providing a coin slot inthe lock, a pivoted element having a coin intercepting portion,resilient means normally pivoting the element to a position projectingsaid portion into coin intercepting position in the slot, means forpartially withdrawing said portion from the coin slot when the lockingbolt is moved forwardly to the position permitted by the latch, meanswhereby a coin supported on said portion drops by gravity to a lowerlevel when said portion is thus partially withdrawn and including ashoulder on said portion for engaging said dropped coin and thuslimiting the return of said portion into the coin slot, and cooperatingmeans carried by said element and latch for maintaining the latch ininoperative position when the return of said portion is thus limited.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which the door locking bolt ispart of a unit comprising a barrel rotatably mounted in the frame andhaving the bolt mounted thereon and rotatable therewith, said unithaving a rearwardly facing shoulder and said latch comprising a pawlpivoted to the frame rearwardly of the shoulder and having a forwardlyextending end normally spaced from and in position to be engaged by theshoulder and prevent said forward movement of the bolt beyond apredetermined position short of door locking position.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 in which said shoulder is on thebolt and the pawl is disposed rearwardly thereof and in the plane of thebolt.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 plus means for automaticallyreleasing said cooperating means and permitting the latch to return tooperative position when the locking bolt is moved to door lockingposition.

5. A coin controlled lock comprising in combination, a frame, a doorlocking unit comprising a barrel rotatably mounted in the frame andhaving a bolt mounted thereon and rotatable therewith forwardly andrearwardly to door locking and released positions respectively, the unithaving a notch therein providing a rearwardly facing shoulder, a pawlpivoted to the frame rearwardly of the shoulder and having a forwardlyextending end adapted to enter the notch in position to be engaged bythe shoulder and prevent said forward movement of the bolt short of doorlocking position, means normally pivoting the pawl into the notch, meansproviding a coin slot in the lock, a pivoted element having a coinintercepting portion, resilient means normally pivoting the element to aposition projecting said portion into coin intercepting position in theslot, means for partially withdrawing said portion from the coin slotwhen the locking bolt is moved forwardly to the position permitted bythe pawl, means whereby a coin supported on said portion drops bygravity to a lower level when said portion is thus partially withdrawnand including a shoulder on said portion for engaging said dropped coinand thus limiting the return of said portion into the coin slot andmeans carried by said element for engaging and holding the pawl fromentering the notch when the return of such portion is thus limited.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 in which the pawl has a rearwardlyextending end portion and said pawl holding means carried by saidelement comprises a resilient member disposed to slide past and engagebehind said rearwardly eXtending end portion of the pawl, and means formoving and retaining said member out of pawl holding position while thebolt is being moved to locked position and returned to unlockedposition.

Beimel July 15, 1952 Beimel Apr. 14, 1953

1. A COIN CONTROLLED LOCK COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A FRAME, A DOORLOCKING BOLT MOUNTED IN THE FRAME FOR MOVEMENT FORWARDLY AND REARWARDLYTO DOOR LOCKING AND RELEASED POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY, MEANS INCLUDING ALATCH PERMITTING FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE BOLT TOWARD BUT SHORT OF DOORLOCKING POSITION WHEN THE LATCH IS IN OPERATIVE POSITION, MEANS NORMALLYMOVING THE LATCH TO OPERATIVE POSITION, MEANS PROVIDING A COIN SLOT INTHE LOCK, A PIVOTED ELEMENT HAVING A COIN INTERCEPTING PORTION,RESILIENT MEANS NORMALLY PIVOTING THE ELEMENT TO A POSITION PROJECTINGSAID PORTION INTO COIN INTERCEPTING POSITION IN THE SLOT, MEANS FORPARTIALLY WITHDRAWING SAID PORTION FROM THE COIN SLOT WHEN THE LOCKINGBOLT IS MOVED FORWARDLY TO THE POSITION PERMITTED BY THE LATCH, MEANSWHEREBY A COIN SUPPORTED ON SAID PORTION DROPS BY GRAVITY TO A LOWERLEVEL WHEN SAID PORTION IS THUS PARTIALLY WITHDRAWN AND INCLUDING ASHOULDER ON SAID PORTION FOR ENGAGING SAID DROPPED COIN AND THUSLIMITING THE RETURN OF SAID PORTION INTO THE COIN SLOT, AND COOPERATINGMEANS CARRIED BY SAID ELEMENT AND LATCH FOR MAINTAINING THE LATCH ININOPERATIVE POSITION WHEN THE RETURN OF SAID PORTION IS THUS LIMITED.